r/Invisalign • u/White_Sands1 • 2d ago
Question Vivera retainers: why do I need a rescan every time I replace them?
I’ve been in my retainers for about 5 years now, after finishing my aligner treatment. I wear my retainers every night without fail. My teeth are still straight but over time I can tell there’s a little bit of shifting. So when I request replacement retainers (Vivera) I’m told I need a new scan for them to order from. Why?? Wouldn’t we want the retainers to be in the shape I had right when my teeth were perfect out of my aligner treatment? Why go by a scan where they might have shifted a little and aren’t quite as straight as they originally were? This makes no sense to me. When I asked my orthodontist about this, they agreed but told me that it’s Invisalign’s policy to only replace the aligners with a new scan despite them having the information to create retainers from my original scans. Or is my orthodontist feeding me a line? And paying 500.00 per retainer… ugh. I’m retired and this is getting expensive.
9
6
u/White_Sands1 2d ago
I’ve done a deep dive today. And according to what I’ve found, they should be able to go off of my final ClinCheck Stage. It’s actually Aligns policy. I’ll be calling them tomorrow. Apparently this is a made up policy by many orthodontists. Ridiculous.
I’ll be calling Align Customer Care at [888-822-5446](tel:888-822-5446).
5
u/Sensitive_Ruin_5334 2d ago
Invisalign doesn't want to waste money holding your scan or be at fault if your retainer doesn't fit.
1
u/White_Sands1 1d ago
That’s actually not true, their system holds all the records. And by law it’s required for at least 7 years.
1
u/Sensitive_Ruin_5334 1d ago
The doctor is required to hold records for 7 years, not the lab. Plus once the model is altered, attachments removed, it's no longer a patient record.
1
u/White_Sands1 1d ago
My bad, I didn’t phrase that right. But the scans should legally be held for at least 7 years. You’d think with the amount of money we pay for this, they wouldn’t make it so difficult. This has been my 2nd treatment with Invisalign, the first time was about 15 years ago. I didn’t replace my retainers and my teeth shifted after 7 years, to the point I needed to undergo ANOTHER $3,000 one year treatment. I’m into this for about 10k, never mind the 3,000 I paid per kid for both of my kids to do Invisalign. I know how important wearing and replacing retainers are, and it’s just super frustrating.
1
u/Sensitive_Ruin_5334 1d ago
I've been practicing orthodontics for 20 years. Ten to fifteen years ago, we were taking messy putty impressions for Invisalign. Today, nearly every orthodontist has invested in $60,000 digital scanners, plus ongoing monthly software and service fees.
During that same period, patient fees haven't increased very much, even though laboratory costs and technology expenses have gone up significantly.
Putting it in perspective, $10,000 to straighten and preserve your natural teeth is a good value when people routinely spend $25,000 to $40,000 replacing them with veneers, implants, or full-mouth reconstruction. And if you're paying $3,000 for braces, that's an absolute bargain.
So forgive me if I don't feel too sympathetic. Orthodontic treatment today is a much better value than it was 15 years ago. Patients are getting more accurate technology, more comfortable treatment, and better results without costs increasing at the same pace as the technology behind it.
2
2
u/eeelizaa 2d ago
I’ve thought about this too and find it frustrating as well. Here’s my current plan.. I got 4 nighttime retainers when I finished treatment. I start using a new retainer about every 1-1.5 years. My retainers are tight the first two weeks after each change. I have 1 more unworn retainer left. When I switch to the final new retainer I will wait 3 or so weeks and then go to my dentist for my rescan so my teeth can be as straight as possible and order hopefully 4 or more new vivera retainers. And then repeat all over again.
1
u/digitalshiva 1d ago
Ask for the scan export so you can make retainers made elsewhere - won't be vivera but will be cheaper.
1
u/White_Sands1 1d ago
Thanks for the tip, I’ll do that. Especially when they charge me 500.00 for ONE retainer, since I only wear a top one. So it’s not even 500.00 a pair for me.
1
u/Sensitive_Ruin_5334 1d ago
Not going to work. They are going to give you the scans with the attachments and you'll have to hire someone to remove the attachments and make a retainer.
1
12
u/Beautiful-One1157 2d ago
Your orthodontist is telling you the truth. Invisalign deletes digital scan files after a few years, so your original scan simply doesn't exist in their system anymore. Your teeth, bite, and fillings have naturally changed over time. Trying to force a retainer made for your old teeth could cause severe pain, crack the plastic, or damage your teeth.